University of Lethbridge
Department of Geography
Introduction to Human Geography - Geography 1200
The Cultural Landscape of Lethbridge as viewed from the Oldman River Coulees
The purpose of this assignment is to sensitize you to the richness of the landscape that we take
for granted simply because it is so familiar. Along the way you should observe and question
many things. In Yogi Berra's words, "You can see a lot by looking."
Safety
Dress for the weather and wear comfortable supportive footgear. Don’t do the field trip if the
ground is wet or covered in snow. Start the trip one hour before sunset so it can be completed in
daylight, be careful on steep or slippery foot paths and be sure to do the trip in groups of two to
five. Make sure someone has a cell phone. Binoculars would be useful but are not essential.
In case of emergency, dial 911 and campus security: 329 2345.
Instructions
This is designed to be a self-guided field trip. It starts on the 6th floor level patio on the east side
of University Hall. Instructions are in italics while questions are in regular font. Bring a pad
and pencil. Each person should take detailed field notes.
Walk east across the patio, through the two rusty chimneys, across the straw landscape matting
and along the path running east along the coulee crest. This path might be described as a
“desire line”. (Google this if you are not familiar with the term.) Stop when you reach the blue
bench dedicated to Professor Bob Koepp. Have a seat.
Prairie Level Land Uses
1. From the bench observe the panorama before you to the south, east, north, and west. From an
economic perspective, can you see examples of land uses representing all five different economic
sectors? (Hint: the big white building with orange stripe in the river valley is Lethbridge’s water
treatment plant.)
2. Can you see examples of high density, medium density, and low density housing at prairie
level?
River Valley Land Uses
3. What sort of land uses are found in the valley bottom? What land uses are absent from the
valley bottom? Why is this?
4. Can you see any examples of highway, railway, or electrical transmission corridors?
5. Consider the copses of cottonwood trees that line the east bank of the river. What is their
function from a human point of view? What is their function from the point of view of the mule
deer that inhabit the valley?
6. How many golf courses can you see? Is this a wise use of land in this location?
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Cultural Landscape
7. Using the ideas of Carl Sauer, explain how this vista may be understood as a cultural
landscape.
Walk down to the brown sign south-east of the blue bench.
Reading the Landscape
8. What does this sign say? What does this tell you about the function of the river valley?
9. Turn around and walk back up the valley side towards University Hall, staying near the coulee
bottom. As you climb the slope, take note of the manholes. How many did you find? What is
their function? Where are these manhole covers manufactured? How long has this firm been
operating? (Google it.) Why are storm sewers referred to as “infrastructure”?
(Hint: check the etymology of infrastructure.) Is this “hard infrastructure” or “soft
infrastructure”?
10. As you climb up through the coulee bottom, observe the texture of the vegetated slopes to the
north and to the south. The cardinal direction that a slope faces is known as its “aspect”. Slope
aspect gains particular significance relative to the angle of the sun. Compare and contrast the
north and south-facing slopes. How do you account for these contrasts?
When you reach the straw landscape matting please turn left and walk around it to avoid
trampling the newly germinated grass. Walk up the stairs to the patio and into University Hall.
You are done! It is time to enjoy a hot drink with your partner.
Ruminating
A field trip report is not required. But you and your group may benefit from some post-fieldtrip
discussion of what you learned from this experience and how downtown Lethbridge compares to
your home town or city. Can you integrate concepts that have been taught in class, described in
the course text book and experienced first-hand in the field? This will be tested in the final
examination.
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